Thinking Aloft

Pilot Tips: Why it’s a good idea to rock the wings before flight

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Reason #1: When you first walk out to the plane for your pre-flight, take a hold of the wing tip and rock it up and down fairly vigorously. After you have completed your pre-flight, drain your fuel sumps. If there was water condensation on the walls of the tanks, it will have been washed off and, since it weighs more than fuel, and since you have given it time to separate from the fuel and make its way down to the drain, it will now show up in your fuel cup. If there is water present of course you will continue to drain the sump until no water appears. Tip: if you have never seen water in fuel, drain some gas into your drain cup, add a small amount of water, and notice the little clear white bubbles in the blue fuel at the bottom of the cup.

Reason #2: If there is any damage in the wing you will hear a rattling sound. Time to get a mechanic!

Reason #3: on some aircraft with struts there is a bushing or bearing which can wear at the wing strut mount at the wing. If there is bushing wear, you will hear a ‘chunk, chunk’ sound as you rock the wing.

Reason # 4: Herein lies a story which will follow in my next post, entitled “One accident that might have been avoided if the pilot had rocked the wings before flight.”

Tags: Preflight, Safety, Training Tips
Posted in Preflight, Tailwheel Transition, Training Tips | 8 Comments »